Where are the Dancers Reply (4)
Editors Letters || Sunday, 20 August, 2006
Dancers, from a young age are continually being told that what they are doing isn't quite good enough, should be better, and that you should work harder if you want to make it in this competitive world.
These are but a few comments that are drummed into our consciousness whilst our brains and bodies are still forming as a young dancer. Is it any wonder that we are a breed of insecure artists that feel we shouldn't complain because we are lucky to have a job! The majority of the time dancers are treated like children. Using one example, the person leading a rehearsal will quite often be heard to say "let's take it from the top of the 'girls' section" - 'girls!' - I am a 34 year old WOMAN!
A small example, but it clearly indicates the mentality in the dance world. The reason why I feel dancers endure the poor conditions of the dance world is simply because we love to dance and only feel truly ourselves when we have the opportunity to do so.
But enough is enough. We now need some recognition for all those hard hours of discipline and commitment. I would be very grateful if you could pass on some information to me as to who to contact to start to try and tackle this problem. Reading your article has stirred a range of emotions within that need to be spoken.
Charlotte Broom
A good start would be to try and get a regular forum started where professionals meet with and discuss issues relevant to you (not the NDA), ensure there are records of these meetings and establish a timetable for them to follow up on the issues you have raised and describe what action they have taken.
None of this will be easy, not by any stretch of the imagination. Article19 will be here 24/7 if you need backup, technological or otherwise.
Stumble It!
